Is Davos the reason for non-attendance at TÜS?AD meetings?

One cannot say that Turkey?s prestigious Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜS?AD) has always been on good terms with the government.

Taking a look at other countries, actually, it is a common practice for ?the clubs of the bosses? and governments to have showdowns from time to time. However, in Turkey, these showdowns are more frequent and harsher, sending waves throughout all levels of government.

TÜS?AD head Haluk Dinçer?s recent remarks in an interview with Cansu Çaml?bel of daily Hürriyet caused all hell to break loose. ?The president is the head of the state. TÜS?AD?s interlocutor is not the president, it is the prime minister and relevant Cabinet ministers,? Dinçer said.

In response, President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said, ?If TÜS?AD does not recognize us, then we will not participate in their events.?

But actually, when you review Çaml?bel?s interview, every word is carefully chosen and respectful. Dinçer particularly emphasized Erdo?an?s visit to TÜS?AD last September, after three-and-a-half years.

Reaction to the interview also came from Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu. Davuto?lu said he would not participate in TÜS?AD?s general assembly on Jan. 22. As a matter of fact, when PM Davuto?lu took office, it was TÜS?AD that visited him first, and they talked about government-NGO relations.

Leading economist Daron Acemo?lu from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) focuses on government-civil society relations, arguing that the dialogue with nongovernmental organizations such as TÜS?AD, the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜS?AD), and women?s organizations, will be benchmarks for Turkey?s development. In other words, what is required is exactly the opposite of ...